Police pepper spray activists as protest against Melbourne weapons expo escalates - MASHAHER

Key Points

Protesters have clashed with police outside a military arms expo in Melbourne’s CBD.
The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition will run from Wednesday to Friday.
Victoria Police expects it to be their biggest operation since chaos surrounding the World Economic Forum in 2000.

Loud bangs have rung out across Melbourne’s CBD as police pelted hundreds of anti-war demonstrators protesting a military arms expo with tear gas and pepper spray.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the chief commissioner had informed her a number of arrests had been made after a protest outside the Land Forces defence exhibition at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre intensified on Wednesday.

“What we are seeing is a potentially dangerous and dynamic situation,” she told reporters at state parliament. She estimated around 3,000 people had taken part in protests.

Dozens of police created a barricade outside the exhibition centre to make way for attendees to enter, with anti-war protesters flanking either side.

Activists threw eggs and water and yelled at attendees as they walked along Yarra Promenade to enter the expo.

Police were pelted with horse droppings and tomatoes by some protesters, with one officer left with a bleeding face.

Wheelie bins were set on fire and thrown towards police as the protest moved to the Spencer Street Bridge about 9.15am.

As tensions flared heavily armed police set off canisters of tear gas and used pepper spray foam.

The gas was released on the bridge, triggering loud bangs, with dozens of protesters and attendees being treated after being hit by the sprays and gas.

Wheelie bins were set on fire as the demonstrations intensified, with police deploying pepper spray at protesters. Source: AAP / Con Chronis

Greens MP Gabrielle Di Vietri attended the protest and will make a speech to activists while parliament is sitting on Wednesday

She insisted the state government should have cancelled the “deadly weapons expo” on Tuesday.

Allan was critical of Di Vietri, saying conflict overseas “should not be turned into an opportunity to drive conflict on the streets of Melbourne”.

A line of police officers standing in front of a large building with "Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre" written on it.

Police created a barrier outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett

Disrupt Land Forces spokeswoman Jasmine Duff said the protest was triggered by the government’s stance on the conflict in the Middle East.

“We’re protesting to stand up for all those who have been killed by the type of weapons on display at the convention,” she said.

“Many of the weapons inside the convention centre are advertised as battle-tested. In the context of Israeli weapons firms, which are present, this means tested through killing civilians in Gaza.”

Victoria Police expected Wednesday’s protest to be its biggest operation in more than two decades as they deployed officers from around the state to the convention centre, with the cost between $10 million to $15 million.

Source Agencies